New Bedford man gets 6 years for drunk, reckless, deadly boat crash

When Susan DeSa stands before her students, teaching music in the Fall River schools, she is careful to avoid thoughts of her daughter.

By Kevin P. Connor

The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

By Kevin P. Connor

Posted Jul. 8, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 8, 2011 at 8:18 AM

By Kevin P. Connor

Posted Jul. 8, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 8, 2011 at 8:18 AM

NEWPORT, R.I.

» Social News

When Susan DeSa stands before her students, teaching music in the Fall River schools, she is careful to avoid thoughts of her daughter.

The memory of Alesia Ann DeSa can bring her to tears in an instant, Susan DeSa said.

“I lost a piece of my heart when she was killed,” DeSa testified in Superior Court Friday. “I’ll never get that back. They say time heals. I’m still waiting.”

Alesia DeSa of Dighton and her friend, Kaylee Therrien of Assonet, were both 23 on May 16, 2010, the night they died.

They were passengers in a 22-foot SeaRay powerboat driven by Matthew Fortin, 28, of New Bedford, travelling from East Greenwich to Portsmouth at 1:40 a.m. The boat crashed on Despair Island, the collection of rocks west of Prudence Island, and overturned. It took rescue craft, responding to a mayday call, an hour to find the boat in the darkness, officials say.

Fortin pleaded no contest Friday to recklessness and operating a boat under the influence of alcohol. He accepted a 15-year sentence with three years in prison and three of home confinement.

The plea agreement was hammered out between prosecutor Jay Sullivan and Michelle Alves, the public defender appointed to represent Fortin. He was sentenced by Judge Melanie Thunberg.

Beverly Therrien, the mother of Kaylee Therrien, questioned the crimes that were charged.

“The crime I feel I endured is the crime of robbery,” Therrien stated. “No one can predict the future, but I feel I’ve been robbed of the opportunity to see Kaylee thrive.”

Nine family members were in the courtroom Friday. The parents of both Alesia DeSa and Kaylee Therrien agreed to the sentence.

Reluctantly, in some cases.

Richard Therrien, Kaylee’s father, said he knew there was no sentence that would blunt the loss he feels.

“Every day, every day, I think of her,” Therrien said, looking directly at Fortin and sometimes pointing at him. “I’m in the shower, I break down. I’m in the truck, I break down. I hear a song or see a guy with his daughter, I break down.

“I just wish I could hear her voice one more time, just so I could say goodbye. I can’t because of what you did.”

He noted that part of Fortin’s sentence will include rehabilitation programs and community service after his release from custody.

“I never want to see your face again, but I’ll keep track of you,” Therrien told Fortin. “I pray to God Kaylee helps you when you get out to do what you promised to do.”

Fortin pleaded guilty to operating a boat recklessly with death resulting and with personal injury resulting. Another passenger, Joel Mayer of Cumberland, R.I., was injured in the crash.

Page 2 of 2 - Fortin also admitted he was intoxicated at the time of the crash. He pleaded guilty to operating a boat under the influence of alcohol with a death resulting and with personal injury resulting.

The plea was structured in two parts. After he finishes his sentence of three years in prison, Fortin will begin a second sentence of three years of home confinement. The total sentence, including prison, home confinement, suspended sentences and probation, will stretch for the next 15 years.

Fortin, before his sentencing, addressed the families.

“I’d like to look you all in the eye and take responsibility for what I’ve done and for the pain I’ve caused you,” he said. “I am sorry, every day, for the pain I caused you.

“I will never forget your daughters. I will never, ever, forget your daughters. I am sorry for what I’ve done to you.”